A robot is sent through time to probe the future and determine humanity’s short-term chances of survival. It finds all seemingly well, but a humaniform robot that overhears its report interprets things differently.

This overlong story is characteristic of many of Asimov’s later robot stories, exploring the idea of the blurring line between humanity and robot. Others that follow this story in positing a replacement of mankind by its creation include “—That Thou Art Mindful Of Him,” a rather stronger story.

To make matters worse, the story is only found in Robot Visions, a book which replicates the better parts of I, Robot, making “Robot Visions” seem even worse by putting it all-but next to "Robbie” and "Reason.”

Found In

	Robot Visions